The Real SevastopolSevastopol is located on the southwest corner of Crimean Peninsula, on a series of bays formed by the estuary of the Tcherniya River. These bays were first used as ports as far back as the fifth Century BC by the Ancient Greeks. The port was then called Chersonesus. It became part of the Roman Empire and in the Byzantine period was administrative headquarters for the region. In the ninth century, Kievan Grand Prince Oleg launched the first Russian attack against Constantinople, which was then the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Over the course of the next eleven hundred years, Russians and Byzantine or Ottoman Turks continued to fight sea battles as Russia struggled to obtain a port on the Black Sea, and unfettered access to the Mediterranean Sea. Russia finally gained her Black Sea port, but never did manage to gain unfettered access to the Med. Chersonesus was destroyed during the war between Tamerlane and Toktamish in 1399, and it was almost 400 years before another port was built on that site. Finally, after the signing of the Kuchuk - Kainardzhiysky treaty, which granted the Crimean Khanate independence from the Ottoman Empire and placed it under Russian protection, the fortress - port - city of Sevastopol was founded in 1783 by order of Catherine the Great. Sevastopol, which means "the August city", is located on a southwest extremity of a Crimean peninsula, where the hilly coast is cut by tens bays. It was chosen as a navy base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet because of the many calm bays around the area, and fortifications were begun in 1826. During the Crimean War (1853-1856), the city was besieged for 349 days, before finally falling to a combined English, French and Turkish force. Russian losses were very high. The entire Black Sea Fleet was annihilated; three admirals, 106 officers and 3,777 sailors were killed; nearly 14,000 seamen and officers were wounded. In spite of the catastrophic defeat at Sevastopol, the meritorious effort to defend the fortress is regarded by historians as one of the most distinguished moments in Russia's military history. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, which was signed March 18, 1856, Russia lost the right to have a Black Sea Fleet, or to build fortresses and naval bases on the Black Sea. As a result of the treaty terms, the city, which was nearly destroyed, remained largely deserted until 1870 when it was refortified and a new naval base started to house the Black Sea Fleet which was also being rebuilt. By 1914, the population of Sevastopol was 77,000 and today, it is over 500,000. The harbor consists of a main inlet some four to five miles long and 3/4 mile wide, with several side inlets. The harbor is 65 ft deep. This, of course, has nothing to do with Diplomacy, but if history doesn’t interest you, why are you playing a game set in World War I? The Diplomatic SevastopolRussia is a Land-Power with two Ports, just like her neighbor to the West, Germany. It has been said, however, that Russia more closely resembles two Powers with only four Centers between them, rather than being a power with four centers, because there is no way for F Sev and F StP to cooperate in joint-operations. Russia, therefore, has the option to split his forces three ways depending on which Fleet his Armies move to support. Sending both Armies north runs the risk of losing Sev, Mos and War to a southern attack, so it is rarely attempted. Sending one Army north, typically Mos-StP in the Spring, leaves Russia’s southern defense weakened, and may force an EG vs. R alliance, but it is easier for Russia to Solo with a strong commitment to the north and west. It is more common for Russia to send both Armies south, though. While there are nearly 700 possible opening move combinations for Russia, there are fortunately, only four (legal) moves possible for Fleet Sev, Sev HOLD, Sev-Rum, Sev-Arm, or Sev-Bla. Consequently, the movement of Russia’s Sevastopol Fleet can often provide an indication of the Czar’s intentions in the South.
Sevastopol in the Mid-gameRussia’s four Home Centers and the map design provide Russia with a measure of protection from stabs. Russia can lose Sevastopol or St. Petersburg, and still function effectively from the other port, though the Czar’s options become much reduced. If Russia is allied with Austria or Turkey, and Russia still controls an unoccupied Sevastopol, each Russian build becomes an opportunity to stab, particularly if the original Fleet Sev is still in Rumania. Similarly, builds in Budapest, Ankara, or Army Smyrna may threaten Sevastopol, so the wary Czar must watch for them, and be prepared to defend Sevastopol, if necessary. For complete security, Russia must occupy all of Turkey or England. For either task, Fleets will be required, but two Fleets, one in the Aegean and one in the Eastern Mediterranean can hold Turkey as long as Rumania and Bulgaria are also held, so major Fleet construction in Sevastopol is rare unless Russia hopes to attack or defend Italy. Sevastopol in the End-gameSevastopol can be the seventeenth Center in a major stalemate-line extending from Spain and Marseilles through Italy, Austria, the Balkans and Turkey, for Italy or another Southern Power. If Portugal is captured first, then taking Sevastopol will result in a Solo, but Sevastopol does not, as a rule, play a key-role in the endgame. Sevastopol in ConclusionWhy Sevastopol? Well, it beats the hell out of Ankara!
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I will admit that the women are cuter in Ankara, though. [Editor's Note: Mrs. Hunter authored the Ankara article for the SE Issue.]
